A delicate Western Asiatic gold bead featuring a biconical body with eight flattened facets. The bead has been perforated for suspension. The body tapers in at the ends, before flaring out into wide, rounded, flat rims around the perforations. The outer edge of the rims are decorated with encircling granules and the lip of the perforation is slightly raised. The joining seam at the centre of the body is still visible. Signs of wear as consistent with age, such as some tarnishing, indentations, scratches, chips, and pitting. Some earthly encrustations to the surface. Many grand civilisations inhabited the area of the Near East and Western Asia in Antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity is witnessed by the very sophisticated precious metal crafting of jewellery. Gold beads would have been a part of elaborate larger pieces, such as on necklaces or bracelets in the area of Western Asia. Beautiful precious and semi-precious stones would have been added in the larger pieces to signify wealth and social status. These styles were at the centre of Near Eastern and Western Asiatic jewellery production and were later adopted by the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans. Gold necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets would have been worn in everyday life but also buried with the deceased. Measurements: (circa) L 1.5cm x W 0.7cm Weight: 0.77g Provenance: Ex Japanese private collection, deceased, 1970-2010.